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    Fantasy

    The Priory of the Orange Tree

    by Shannon, Samantha
    “The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon is an epic high fantasy novel set in a divided world where dragons and ancient threats loom. The story follows multiple protagonists, including Queen Sabran IX of Inys, who must produce an heir to secure her queendom, and Ead, a secret mage sworn to protect her. Meanwhile, in the East, dragonrider Tané grapples with loyalty and destiny as an ancient enemy, the Nameless One, stirs. The narrative weaves political intrigue, mythology, and feminist themes across continents, blending European and Asian-inspired lore. At 848 pages, it’s a standalone tale of magic, war, and resilience, praised for its intricate world-building and diverse characters.
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    The Priory of the Orange Tree

    Fifty-Seven

    by Shannon, Samantha

    The chap­ter opens with the exe­cu­tion of Igrain Crest, a noble­woman con­vict­ed of mur­der, in the under­croft of Ascalon Palace. Despite Queen Sabran’s ini­tial desire for a bru­tal pub­lic exe­cu­tion, she relents to a qui­eter behead­ing. Crest remains defi­ant to the end, hurl­ing insults at Sabran and claim­ing her actions were jus­ti­fied. The scene is tense and cer­e­mo­ni­al, with Crest’s fam­i­ly mem­bers, includ­ing Roslain, present to wit­ness her death. The exe­cu­tion is car­ried out swift­ly, and Roslain assumes the Crest fam­i­ly title, mark­ing the end of Igrain’s influ­ence.

    Fol­low­ing the exe­cu­tion, Sabran retreats into intro­spec­tion, grap­pling with rev­e­la­tions about her lin­eage. Ead, her com­pan­ion, tries to com­fort her as Sabran wres­tles with the knowl­edge that she may be descend­ed from Kaly­ba, the Lady of the Woods, and Gian Har­lowe, mak­ing her a bas­tard. Sabran feels her iden­ti­ty and lega­cy are built on lies, com­pound­ed by the loss of her loved ones. Ead reas­sures her that her blood­line does not dimin­ish her accom­plish­ments, but Sabran remains trou­bled by the impli­ca­tions of her ances­try and Kaly­ba’s betray­al.

    The chap­ter delves deep­er into Sabran’s emo­tion­al tur­moil as she reflects on Kaly­ba’s actions, includ­ing the mys­te­ri­ous barb placed inside her. Ead attempts to ratio­nal­ize Kaly­ba’s motives, empha­siz­ing that her alliance with the Name­less One makes her an ene­my regard­less of their shared blood. Sabran’s grief and uncer­tain­ty are pal­pa­ble, and the chap­ter high­lights her strug­gle to rec­on­cile her past with her present role as queen. The inti­mate con­ver­sa­tion between Sabran and Ead under­scores the weight of lead­er­ship and per­son­al iden­ti­ty.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with an urgent mes­sage from High Princess Ermu­na, hint­ing at an impend­ing cri­sis. The let­ter’s date sug­gests that the thou­sand-year bind­ing of the Name­less One is near­ing its end, fore­shad­ow­ing a loom­ing threat. Ead sens­es the inevitabil­i­ty of this rev­e­la­tion, and the chap­ter ends on a fore­bod­ing note, set­ting the stage for the next phase of the sto­ry. The sand­glass metaphor rein­forces the urgency and inevitabil­i­ty of the com­ing con­flict, leav­ing the read­er antic­i­pat­ing the con­se­quences of this turn­ing point.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Igrain Crest face her execution, and what does this reveal about her character?

      Answer:
      Igrain Crest meets her execution with defiance and no remorse. She refuses to apologize for her actions, calling Aubrecht Lievelyn a “sinner and leech,” Rosarian Berethnet a “whore,” and Sabran a “bastard.” She claims she served “just punishment” and believes the Saint will welcome her in Halgalant. This reveals her unwavering conviction in her own righteousness, her deep-seated hatred for the Berethnet line, and her fanatical devotion to her twisted interpretation of justice. Her composed demeanor while kneeling for execution further demonstrates her steely resolve and lack of repentance.

      2. How does Sabran’s reaction to Crest’s execution and her newfound lineage reveal her internal conflict?

      Answer:
      Sabran remains outwardly composed during Crest’s execution, showing no reaction to the taunts, but her cold expression hints at suppressed turmoil. Later, she grapples with the revelation of her potentially illegitimate birth and Kalyba’s bloodline, feeling that “everything I am is a lie.” She fixates on her hands, symbolizing her struggle with identity and power. While Ead reassures her that her heritage doesn’t define her worth, Sabran’s grief over lost loved ones and the violation of the barb underscore her vulnerability and existential crisis about her role as queen.

      3. What symbolic and practical significance does the transfer of the Crest signet ring hold?

      Answer:
      The transfer of the Crest signet ring to Roslain signifies both the end of Igrain’s reign as Duchess of Justice and the continuation of the Crest lineage. Traditionally placed on the right hand, it instead goes on Roslain’s left due to her injury, subtly highlighting the irregularity of this transition. The steward’s proclamation—”May she be rightwise in her conduct”—emphasizes the expectation of moral integrity, contrasting with Igrain’s treachery. Practically, it solidifies Roslain’s authority, while symbolically, it represents hope for redemption of the Crest name.

      4. How does the chapter foreshadow the coming conflict with the Nameless One?

      Answer:
      The urgent letter from High Princess Ermuna, dated the “third day of this spring,” explicitly signals that “the thousand years are almost done,” referencing the prophecy of the Nameless One’s return. Sabran’s shock and Ead’s resigned acknowledgment (“part of her had already known”) create a tone of impending doom. This revelation follows the execution of Crest and Sabran’s identity crisis, suggesting that personal and political turmoil will soon be eclipsed by a greater, existential threat—the breaking of the ancient binding spell and the wyrm’s resurgence.

      5. Analyze the contrasting perspectives on justice presented in this chapter.

      Answer:
      The chapter presents two conflicting visions of justice: Igrain Crest’s vengeful, self-righteous version (executing those she deems “sinners”) versus Sabran’s more measured approach (initially wanting a brutal punishment but accepting a private execution). Crest believes her actions are divinely sanctioned, while Sabran, though angry, heeds counsel to avoid public spectacle. The blood collection ritual—a traditional but macabre practice—further complicates the theme, blending ceremony with violence. Ultimately, the chapter questions whether justice is about retribution (Crest) or stability (Sabran), leaving room for reflection on its true nature.

    Quotes

    • 1. “I ask for no mercy, and make no apology. Aubrecht Lievelyn was a sinner and a leech. Rosarian Berethnet was a whore, and Sabran Berethnet is a bastard who will never bear a daughter of her own.”

      This defiant declaration by Igrain Crest at her execution encapsulates both her unrepentant villainy and the central tensions around Sabran’s legitimacy. The quote reveals deep-seated political and personal conflicts while foreshadowing later revelations about Sabran’s true parentage.

      2. “That I am likely a bastard. That I am descended from a liar and the Lady of the Woods—the same woman who took my child from me—and that no good house could be built on such a foundation. That everything I am is a lie.”

      Sabran’s existential crisis following revelations about her ancestry captures the novel’s themes of identity and legacy. This vulnerable moment shows her grappling with the collapse of her understanding of self and royal heritage.

      3. “The thousand years are almost done.”

      This ominous closing line (referring to the prophecy about the Nameless One) serves as both a cliffhanger and a thematic summation. The brief statement powerfully conveys the impending doom facing the world while tying together various prophetic threads in the narrative.

    Quotes

    1. “I ask for no mercy, and make no apology. Aubrecht Lievelyn was a sinner and a leech. Rosarian Berethnet was a whore, and Sabran Berethnet is a bastard who will never bear a daughter of her own.”

    This defiant declaration by Igrain Crest at her execution encapsulates both her unrepentant villainy and the central tensions around Sabran’s legitimacy. The quote reveals deep-seated political and personal conflicts while foreshadowing later revelations about Sabran’s true parentage.

    2. “That I am likely a bastard. That I am descended from a liar and the Lady of the Woods—the same woman who took my child from me—and that no good house could be built on such a foundation. That everything I am is a lie.”

    Sabran’s existential crisis following revelations about her ancestry captures the novel’s themes of identity and legacy. This vulnerable moment shows her grappling with the collapse of her understanding of self and royal heritage.

    3. “The thousand years are almost done.”

    This ominous closing line (referring to the prophecy about the Nameless One) serves as both a cliffhanger and a thematic summation. The brief statement powerfully conveys the impending doom facing the world while tying together various prophetic threads in the narrative.

    FAQs

    1. How does Igrain Crest face her execution, and what does this reveal about her character?

    Answer:
    Igrain Crest meets her execution with defiance and no remorse. She refuses to apologize for her actions, calling Aubrecht Lievelyn a “sinner and leech,” Rosarian Berethnet a “whore,” and Sabran a “bastard.” She claims she served “just punishment” and believes the Saint will welcome her in Halgalant. This reveals her unwavering conviction in her own righteousness, her deep-seated hatred for the Berethnet line, and her fanatical devotion to her twisted interpretation of justice. Her composed demeanor while kneeling for execution further demonstrates her steely resolve and lack of repentance.

    2. How does Sabran’s reaction to Crest’s execution and her newfound lineage reveal her internal conflict?

    Answer:
    Sabran remains outwardly composed during Crest’s execution, showing no reaction to the taunts, but her cold expression hints at suppressed turmoil. Later, she grapples with the revelation of her potentially illegitimate birth and Kalyba’s bloodline, feeling that “everything I am is a lie.” She fixates on her hands, symbolizing her struggle with identity and power. While Ead reassures her that her heritage doesn’t define her worth, Sabran’s grief over lost loved ones and the violation of the barb underscore her vulnerability and existential crisis about her role as queen.

    3. What symbolic and practical significance does the transfer of the Crest signet ring hold?

    Answer:
    The transfer of the Crest signet ring to Roslain signifies both the end of Igrain’s reign as Duchess of Justice and the continuation of the Crest lineage. Traditionally placed on the right hand, it instead goes on Roslain’s left due to her injury, subtly highlighting the irregularity of this transition. The steward’s proclamation—”May she be rightwise in her conduct”—emphasizes the expectation of moral integrity, contrasting with Igrain’s treachery. Practically, it solidifies Roslain’s authority, while symbolically, it represents hope for redemption of the Crest name.

    4. How does the chapter foreshadow the coming conflict with the Nameless One?

    Answer:
    The urgent letter from High Princess Ermuna, dated the “third day of this spring,” explicitly signals that “the thousand years are almost done,” referencing the prophecy of the Nameless One’s return. Sabran’s shock and Ead’s resigned acknowledgment (“part of her had already known”) create a tone of impending doom. This revelation follows the execution of Crest and Sabran’s identity crisis, suggesting that personal and political turmoil will soon be eclipsed by a greater, existential threat—the breaking of the ancient binding spell and the wyrm’s resurgence.

    5. Analyze the contrasting perspectives on justice presented in this chapter.

    Answer:
    The chapter presents two conflicting visions of justice: Igrain Crest’s vengeful, self-righteous version (executing those she deems “sinners”) versus Sabran’s more measured approach (initially wanting a brutal punishment but accepting a private execution). Crest believes her actions are divinely sanctioned, while Sabran, though angry, heeds counsel to avoid public spectacle. The blood collection ritual—a traditional but macabre practice—further complicates the theme, blending ceremony with violence. Ultimately, the chapter questions whether justice is about retribution (Crest) or stability (Sabran), leaving room for reflection on its true nature.

    Note